Lavaca County 4-H Food and Nutrition contests held

  • Lavaca County 4-H Food Challenge Participants: back row, left to right, The Souper Friends, The Saute Brigade and Chop It Like It’s Hot; middle row, The Blonde Squad, The Cooksters, and The Sprinkle Bombs; front row, The Taste Buds.
    Lavaca County 4-H Food Challenge Participants: back row, left to right, The Souper Friends, The Saute Brigade and Chop It Like It’s Hot; middle row, The Blonde Squad, The Cooksters, and The Sprinkle Bombs; front row, The Taste Buds.
  • Lavaca County 4-H Food Show Participants: front row, left to right, Ainsely Guelker, Watson Kudelka, Dillon Collins, and Ryan Guelker; middle row, left to right, Blair Kudelka and Tate Gonzales; back row, left to right, Tristan Collins, Olivia Gonzales, and Sophia Etzler.
    Lavaca County 4-H Food Show Participants: front row, left to right, Ainsely Guelker, Watson Kudelka, Dillon Collins, and Ryan Guelker; middle row, left to right, Blair Kudelka and Tate Gonzales; back row, left to right, Tristan Collins, Olivia Gonzales, and Sophia Etzler.

    The Lavaca County 4-H Food Show and Food Challenge competitions were held on Sunday, October 20 in the cafeteria at Shiner ISD.  
    The Food Show has as its objectives: 1) to help members develop healthy eating habits to reduce the risk of chronic disease; 2) develop food preparation, safety and nutrition skills; 3) provide leadership and public speaking opportunities; 4) provide opportunities for participants to connect MyPlate and Dietary Guidelines to their daily live; and 5) Learn about nutrients and the health benefits they provide to your body.  
    Food show participants prepare a dish at home and then provide a five minute presentation with the dish to a panel of judges on their knowledge of nutrition, food safety, and preparation. 
    The Food Show results were: 1st Place – Sr. Main Dish – Sophia Etzler, 1st Place – Junior Main Dish – Tristan Collins, 2nd Place – Ainsely Guelker, 1st Place – Junior – Appetizer – Blair Kudelka, 2nd Place – Tate Gonzales, 1st Place – Junior – Side Dish – Olivia Gonzales. 
    All of these members qualified to participate in the District 11 Food Show to be held in Cuero on December 10.  In addition, to their participation at county, Clover Kid Members (kindergarten -through second grade) are invited to participate in a non-competitive atmosphere.  
    Clover Kid Appetizer participants were Ryan Guelker and Dillon Collins. Watson Kudelka participated in the Clover Kid Healthy Dessert category.
    The Food Challenge competition followed the Food Show. The Food Challenge has the following objectives: 1) provide opportunities for participants to exhibit their knowledge and skill when preparing and presenting a dish; 2) provide opportunities for participants to learn from other team members; 3) promote teamwork; 4) give participants opportunities for public speaking; and 5) provide leadership opportunities. 
    The Food Challenge competition is a team event with three to four members on each team. 
    The teams are given a secret key ingredient and assigned a category. They have forty minutes to prepare a healthy dish and create a group presentation for a panel of judges. 
    This year’s contest had eight teams entered. The top two teams in each age division have qualified to compete at the District 11 Food Challenge to be held in Cuero on December 11.
    The Food Challenge results are:  1st Place Senior Side Dish – “Saute’ Brigade” – Keely Knesek, Jenna Pohler, Callie Chrismon, and Kara Remschel; 1st Place – Senior Main Dish – “To Be Determined” – Madeline Collins, Augusta Dodson, and Raleigh Moore;  Intermediate Side Dish: 1st Place –“Souper Friends” – Khloe Olsovsky, Lily Janak, and Baye Shimek, 2nd Place – “Chop It Like It’s Hot” – Madelyn Babb, Avery Garcia, Madison Coburn, and Ellie Migl, 3rd Place – “The Taste Buds” – Jake Good, Eli Barton, Luke Barton, and Pierce Wallace; Junior Healthy Dessert – 1st Place – “The Sprinkle Bombs” – Kaylee Jansky, Caroline Duty, Whitley Mikes, and Blakely Hanslik, 2nd Place – “The Cooksters” – Kolet Olsovsky, Claire Janak, and Emery Haas, 3rd Place – “The Blonde Squad” -Chloe Jansky, Jaedyn Grahmann, Sawyer Wimberly and Slayde Wimberly.
    Participation in the 4-H Food and Nutrition project contests is just one way in which youth can demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have gained in their project. 
    4-H is open to all who are at least eight years old and in the third grade up to twelfth grade and eighteen years of age. To learn more about 4-H contact the Lavaca County Office of the  Texas AgriLife Extension Service at 361-798-2221.